Health care workers step outside to view parade in their honor at Lakewood Ranch
Health care workers at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center who have been on the front-line of the battle against COVID-19 for months received a rolling, honking, thank-you of a parade on Thursday.
The parade around the campus came three months and one day after the first patient in Manatee County died at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center after testing positive for COVID-19.
Among those taking part in the parade were members of the Wayne Sternberg family. Mr. Sternberg, 71, died at the medical center April 7 of complications from COVID-19.
Mr. Sternberg, a retired banking executive, was a beloved family man, and exceptional wood worker. The Sternberg family was so appreciative of the hospital’s valiant efforts to save their loved one that they encouraged contributions to the Lakewood Ranch Hospital ICU COVID-19 Nurses Fund.
As trucks and cars rolled past health workers lining the front of the hospital, some waved signs of thanks, while one car waved a large American flag, and another offered a bag of cookies.
Judy Young, chief nursing officer for the medical center, said that when she became a health care worker she never imagined that a community might have a parade for her and her co-workers.
“I think it is really fantastic that the community has come together to support us, to show that they understand what the health care profession is going through at this time. We really, really appreciate all of the support we have had from the beginning of the COVID pandemic from our community,” Young said.
Carole Cowan, president of the medical center’s auxiliary, said the parade is one way to honor the staff who have worked so tirelessly through this whole pandemic.
The parade is a small thank you for a job well done, she said.
Keith Pandeloglou, director of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, led the parade around the hospital.
“They are heroes. The least that we can do is to show them our appreciation as a community. So we decided the safest way we could do so is with this drive-through parade,” Pandeloglou said.
The primary mission of the the hospital auxiliary is to provide scholarships for students studying to be nurses.
To make donations to the auxiliary’s scholarship program, click on tickets at https://www.facebook.com/events/261320554951113/.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Health care workers step outside to view parade in their honor at Lakewood Ranch."
